What is a Lip /Tongue Tie?
Generally, most people have two frenulums – one that anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth and the other that connects the lip to the mouth.
- Tongue Tie: An excessive amount of tissue or membranes where the tongue connects to the bottom of the mouth, prohibiting the tongue from moving freely. This condition is known as a tongue tie.
- Lip Tie: Similar to a tongue tie, when excessive tissue is formed from the top of the lip to the upper gum tissue above the anterior teeth.
Infants born with lip or tongue ties often have difficulty latching, leading many mothers to abandon breastfeeding efforts. Breastfeeding not only helps moms and babies bond, but delivers nutritional and immunologic protection for the child.
Did you know? Breastfed infants work 60 times harder at the breast than feeding from a bottle. The very action of latching and suckling significantly increases the strength and size of the baby’s tongue. A good latch will help expand the size of the palate, open the airway, oxygenate the blood, support a baby’s brain growth, and help prevent Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Dr. Ann did tongue/lip tie revisions for all 3 of my kids. My youngest was 1 week old and the team was so kind and helpful with dealing with a newborn! They were also very knowledgeable on how to work with my 2 and 4 year olds! We saw huge tongue mobility improvements for all 3 kiddos!
Heidi G.
If you think your child may have this condition, please contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss treatment options.